Improvement in cotton-presses



UNITED STATES 4PATENT OEEIcE Y JOHNT. BURR, oF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

` IM'PRovEMENi-.IN coTToN-PR'lisses.l

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 186,538, dated January 23, 1877; application filed September 22, 1876.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN T.l BURR, of

.Memphis, in the vcounty of `Shelby and State `of Tennessee, have inventeda new and useful Improvement in Cotton-Presses, of which the following is a specitication:

, cotton-presses that have movable and liXed sections in` the platen and in the bed, the movable portions heilig thrown out by weights or springs, and limited in their outward motion, so that their faces are `arranged in the lsame plane.V The `fixed portions of the platen `and bed have the same width as the band used in binding the bale.`

The object of my invention is to `facilitate the operation oil pressing and baling cotton,

by providing `a device bywhich a number of bands may be placed on the liXed portions of the platen or bed, in the spaces between the movable parts, and retained. by a device which admits ot' using one band from each in binding the bale when compressed, while the remaining bands areretained.

Referring to the drawing, A is the bed of `the `p1'ess,'havng `the fixed ribs a ruiming 4transversely across its upper face., B B, 85o.,

are blocks placed in the spaces between the ribs a., and having a thickness equal to the height of the ribs, and a length equivalent to the width4 of the bed. These blocks are provided with two or more guide-rods, b,

thatpassdownward through holes in the bed, `that are connterbored below to `receive nuts placed on the rods b, which limits the upward motion of `the block. i

The holcsthrough "which the rods pass are ,i counterbored in the upper side of thebed to receivesprings c,` that surround the rods b,

and bear the block `upward with such force that the combined strength of all ot' the springsin the bed is `more than sufficient to sustain the. weight of the superimposed bale. A number ofbands, d, are laid `upon the ribs a, and are held in place by spring `hooks e.

' It will be seen that as the uncompressed bale lies upon the block-s B it may be moved about without disturbing the bands which lie between them.

The platen or 'movable portion O of the press is constructed and arranged in all respects like the bed-piece, having similar ribs, blocks, guide-rods, and springs. y

I have described my invention as having springs for throwing out the movable parts ot' the platen and bed; but counter-weights and levers, or any other convenient device, may be used for the purpose.

I do not confine inyselt'to any particular way of holding the bands against the ribs of the platenA or bed, as there are various ways of doing it.

down uponthe bale until it is sufficientlyV The movable blocks yield as compressed. l pressure'is applied until they rest against the bed and platen, leaving thebands in con-y tact with the bale. The bands are non1 fastened, and the bale removed and replaced by another, and the operation repeated.. The supply of bands `is renewed from time to time, as required.

The advantages claimed for this invention are, that the bands are placed true and straight on the bale; They are applied in the most advantageous way, claspiug the bale where it is subjected to the greatest compression, and, consequently, retaining it in the .smallest possible compass, when itis liberated from the press.' It greatly facilitates the operation of pressing cotton, the bands beingV always in their'proper place, and requiring no adjustment.

Having thus described myinvention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The combination, in a cotton-press, of' the ribs @movable blocks B, guide-rods b, springs c, and springbooksc, arranged substantially as shown and described. i

' JOHN T. BURR.

Witnesses: y

J. F. FRANK, ROBERT GIBSON. 

